Device for sampling fluid materials



A. w. KELLEY DEVICE FOR SAMPLING FLUID lMATERIALS Aug. 21, 1951 Filed Aug. 30, 1949 SWW/Mom ADDlSON W. KELLEY Patented ug. 21, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENrHcFFIcE DEVICE FOR SAMPLING FLUID MATERIALS Addison W. Kelley, Conestoga'llownship,l LancasterCounty, Pa., assignor to Armstrong Cork fCompany, Lancaster, Pa., a corporation of" Pennsylvania application August so, 1949, serial No. 113,186

This invention relates to a device for sampling fluid materials and is concerned particularly with a device for taking samples of a fluid such as oil from Within a container such as a tank car at various locations throughout the depth of the fluid in the car. The invention is particularly useful, for example, in securing samples of oil from a tank car where stratification may have occurred and where it is desired to secure representative samples'at various depths in the car, including locations spaced from the bottom thereof or where Water or other contaminants may lie at different levels Within the body of oil. The device is effective for use in sampling viscous fluids or semisolids such as certain oils which congeal to a semisolidcondition when cold, such as China-wood oil. It is also useful in. theY sampling of powdered materials which are capable of flowing. The term fluid materials is used in its broadest sense andv is not limited to liquid or semiliquid materials.

It is an object of this invention to provide a sampling device for fluid materials which will be effective for securing a specimen truly representative of any given stratum of the body of material to be sampled at which the sample is secured.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sampling device which will be useful with all fluid materials, including semisolid oils and the like'and powdered materials of a fluid nature, as well as with liquid and semiliquid materials.

A 'further object of the invention is to provide a sampling devicein which the sample container may be sealed'against the ingress of fluid as the device is moved to its desired location within the body of iluid material to be sampled, may be there opened to receive the sample, and may be sealed againstfthe egress of the sample therefrom or the entrance of'contaminants into the container as the deviceA is removed from the body of-fluid.

The device of this invention includes a receptacle, preferably in the nature of a cylinder, which is provided with a suction plunger which may be moved within the cylinder to draw the specimen of material within the container through a lower opening in the container. The suction plunger is provided with a pair of valves, one of which closes the opening in the ccntaner when the suction plunger is in its lowered position, preventing the ingress of liquid into theA container as it is lowered into the desired position withinA theV body of material to be sampled, and the other of which closes the open- 8 Claims. (Gl.` Z3-425.6)

ing in the container when the suction plunger is in an elevated position, and thus vprevents the egress of the-sample-fromwithin the cylinder and eliminates,thepossibility of contaminants entering'ftle container; i

In order that the inventionymay be readilyv understood, a 'preferred embodiment thereof Will be described in conjunction with the attached drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the device of the invention,- being shown in two parts adjoined by a bracket; I

Figure` 2"isa sectional view taken along the line of II-LII of Figure l; f l

Figure 3 is a lsectional view taken along the line of III-III of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is an elevational View, partially broken away, showing a valve stem for use in the device.

Referring to Figure l, the' device' comprises a receptacle'wliich is in the nature of a hollow cylinder; AA suction'plunger 3 is movable within the cylinder V2L "The cylinder 2 has an upper head 4 bolted thereto and a-lower head 5' similarly bolted to the cylinder. r'The lower cylinderhead 5 has a centralopening which is provided. with a removable Valveseat 6 held in place withinthe cylinder head 5 by a retaining ring l. The valve seat 6 is provided with two sealing surfaces 8 and 9.

The suction plunger 3 is connected to a suction rod I 0, the lower'end of which is of tubular construction, and there is provided a suction rod extension I I which extends forwardly beyond the end of the suction rod I0, passing through a: central opening in the valve seat 6 and the retaining ring l. The'suction rod'extension II`iS pinned tothe suction rod I 0 by pin I2 and is threadedon its opposite end'to receive a valve" stem I3. A 'valve I4 lis threaded onto the valve stem I3 and has a sealing surface I5 which when brought into engagement with the sealing surface 9 of the valve seat'B closes the cylinder 2." It is employed primarily to`cl0s'e the cylinder 2 against the egress of fluid therefrom after a specimen has been drawn therein by the suction plunger, as will be more fully described.

The suction plunger 3 may be formed of twol parts I5 and I1 with 'a resilient suction packingv arrangement I8 disposed therebetween. The low-4 er plunger section Ij'l'is provided on its outer end with a valve I9 having a sealing surface y2l] which when brought into the position shown in Figure y 1 with the surfaceg20 inen'gagement with'the surface 8 seals the 'cylinder 2: against ingress of liquid into the cylinder. It'isused primarily'to'l clear that, when the suction rod is moved to the;

right from the position shown, the valve I9 will be opened by movement away `from the -vaive seat' B and the valve I4 will bebroughtvintosealing engagement with the valvezseat-f. The suction plunger 3 will move a relstivelyfshortdistance along the axis of the cylinder 2 and will draw into the cylinder a small specimencf fluid..materia1. The quantity of fluid receive'din the cylinder`2 upon such movement of the suction plunger. 3 will be governed by the distance between the sealingsurfaces I5r-and.20. The-.stem I3 shown in' Figure 1 is quite .short v.and `willbe .used where only 'a small specimen-is desired. Thesize of the specimen 4may be varied byfusing valvestems I3 of different lengths. Figure 4 .shows a valve stem 2| corresponding .to thevalvestem lI3.of Figurel. It is-similar in allrespects to stem I3 'except that its `bodyis longer. It is provided. with a threaded opening 22 which .receivesthe threaded end of .thesuction rod .extension .I I; With this stem 2|- attached to thesuctionrod extension II in place of the stem I3, the cylinderlwill be substantially 1 completelyfilled .upon movement f of the suction plunger fromlitslower position with the sealing; surace Ainren'agement with the surface 8 to its upnerfpositionfwith the-sealing surface I5 in engagementgwiththe sealing surface. 9.

A supportingrtubee23` isA attached tothe. upper cylinder -headdfbybolts-ZL Thefsuction rod ID is guidedzin its passage through -.the upper cylin.- der head 4 byH a sleeve ZS-in thenature of an oillessbearing. Thezportionotthe device which will be disposed within .the .fluid .to Ybe :sampled is so Vconstructed .that .the Huid .will .not .enter or escape from-thedeviceexcept through the valved opening in theflower cylinder-head .upon .actuation of the suction-plunger. Theyc-ylinder 21s vented to permit the entrance and escape of. air as the suction plunger 3ds moved within-the. cylinder. i

In the. embodiment illustrated thesuction rod Hlfis :provided 'withian opening 26 near Vits .lower end and anothenopeningi.' .near'itsupper end, and" the supporting tub`e-23 iss-provided ywith `an opening 21 adjacent its'upperend.

The suction p rod. It coupled to a `threaded operating4 rod f 23 by- 'an coupling-,29.` which has .a projection 30'extending. within the suction .rod Il. A -tapered .pminpasses through the extensionV 30 and the --rod I0'.,1oiningv the two `together. The operatingrod-ZB-is free to..rotate within the couplingMisas.indicated` by the dottedline in "Figure-.1.. `The threaded operating rod .28 Yis -in theznature-o'f a quick-acting screw having threadprojections! and 33on diametrically opposite portions o'f `the body thereof, with portions 34 andf35 therebetween lbeing recessed. A cocperating. threaded.. member 3B fis fastened to 4the -headof'the supportingtube A23 .by cap screws 31. 'Ilhemember 36' is provided with spaced screw thread-.projections iand 39 (Figuref2) withfirterif'enin'g vrec'essesf4ll yand4l Jree toreceive the..projecting threads 132 Yand 33 of threaded .l operating rod. 28. when.. the -rod is dis.- nbseiinthepositionshowninifsure moving the suction plunger 3 from its closed position, as shown in Figure l, to its elevated position, the rod 28 is rotated through about a quarter of a revolution to bring the threads 32 and 33 into the recesses 40 and 4I in the member 36; and the rod 28 is then lifted, drawing the suction plungery upwardly in the cylinder. In order to facilitate `rotation andnliftingofithe rod 28, an operating handle 42 is provided which is secured thereto by a pin 43. In order to lock the suction plunger 3 in position, a locking member 44 similar in construction to the member 36 is provided. The. member l44 has an operating `handle 45 integraltherewith. Upon elevation or lowering ofthe :suction plunger, it may be locked in xedpositionby rotating the rod 28 to a position where the threads 32 and 33 are in engagement with'th'e'complementary threads 38 and 39-onthezfmernber 38 with the appropriate sealing surface I5 or 2d in engagement with the valve seat6, and the docking ,member 44may.then-be slid along the rod `28 `until the Amembers Y36 yand 44 are `in abutting relationship, being thenrotated-to bring the threads andloffthelocking memberv 44 into engagement with the cor.- respondingthreads 32 vand .33 of the rod 28, locking the Vsuction plunger againstdisplacement;

In order to fixY the yposition of. the sampling device, and particularly the lower` cylinder head 5 through which. thefiuid material, passes inw the cylinder 2 for sampling, (the ,supporting tube 23 is provided `withastop 48.whichis .s1idable.on the supporting tube.23andgmay bexed at adjusted locations,therealonm4 In.the embodiment illustrated inFigure. 1,.one half of a` clamping band 49.15 shown. Theopposite halfnormallv overliesthe sectioxrof the-supporting tube 23 which is cutawayin Figure 1, and-locking bolts (not shown) pass through :the openings SII-inthe stop 4B to -hold the stop in .-adiustedposition ouv the supporting tube. The arms 5I .andfi onine stop 48 are'long enough to span theopening through which.: the. device; inserted into i the tank car or other,receptacle.containing'thedluid material -to -be sampled.

In the operation of thedevice, a valvefstem ofdesired length is positioned on the suctionrod extension I Idependent upon thequantity of fluid to betakenfasa sample. Thevalve Missscrewed.

onto the valve stem, and the 'operator .then vlocks the suctionplunger .3f in its closed position .as

shown .in .FigureV 1 .by manipulation ofl .the threaded .operating rod. andV theglocking member 44 in the mannerV described .'above. ,Assuming that thesample-.ismobetaken from a' car at a depth of four feet from lthe-.bottom thereof, .the stop .-48 .will .begpositionedon illegalm-l porting tube vv23 4and `clamped.fthereagainst'so.that

when .the stop48 liesin-engagement-with the tankcar. surrounding the r.open-ing .through which .the

device .is inserted vinto thecar, .the slower. .cylinvder head 5 will be disposed four feet from-.the bottom of thefcar. The :operator then releases the locking member Abby .diSengag-ng .it- I-rm threads 33 and.34 .and .turns fthe 4:operating.handle 42 .of the operatingrod 2&thronghabouta quarter of a revolution to disengagethe `threads .323ml 33 Vfromthe threads 43 8and.39 .on .the member ,36. The operating rod .28.is then .lifted to ,bringthe sealing surface I5 of the valve lI4 vin to.engage ment withthe sealngsurfaceaof .the valve ,seat

6. TheoperatingrodiZads next rotated through, about .a .quarter of' .a .revolution to .bring theA threads .3'2..and...3.3.into...conp,eratve relation `with. the.. threads .38.sandw33fofathe-memher 38, draw.'v

ing the valve I4 into 'good ysealing relationship with the valve seat 6. The` locking member. 44 is next moved into abutting Vrelationship with member 36; and the handle 45 is rotated to bring the threads of 46 and 41 of the locking member 44 into engagement with the threads 32 'and 33 on the operating rod 28, drawing the locking member 44 into firm locking'engagement with the member 36. The device may then be lifted from the tank and the contents of the cylinder 2 discharged by opening the valve I4 through operation of the operating rod 28 or by removal of the valve I4.

In the device of the invention, the container for the specimen is sealed against the ingress of fluid as the device is moved through the fluid to the position at which the specimen for sampling is to be taken. When the valve on the suction plunger is opened, the iiuid flows or is drawn into the cylinder as the suction plunger is elevated; and when the desired quantity of iluid has been received in the cylinder, the container is automatically sealed against the egress of fluid from the cylinder or the entrance of any contaminating fluid from other levels within the body through which the container may pass. Thus the specimens secured will be truly representative of the `fluid at the level at which sampling is effected. The operator can be certain at all times that his valves are closed by drawing the operating rod for the suction plunger into the threaded member 26 firmly and then locking the plunger in its terminal position.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood the same is not limited thereto but may be otherwise embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: K

1. In a sampling device, the combination of a cylindrical container, a suction plunger movable within said container from a lowered position to an elevated position, a cylinder head secured to the bottom of said cylinder, said head having an opening therein, a valve seat disposed within said opening, said seat having conical sealing surfaces on the inner and outer sides thereof and a central opening therein, a conical valve carried by said suction plunger and engageable with said inner sealing surface of said valve seat when said suction plunger is in lowered position, a second conical valve disposed outside of said container and engageable with said outer sealing surface of said valve seat when said suction plunger is in elevated position, a valve stem extending through said central opening in said valve seat and connecting said second valve to said suction plunger for movement therewith, a tube connected to the upper end of said container, an operating rod for moving said suction plunger passing through said tube, and complementary screw threads on said rod and tube for moving said valves selectively into firm sealing engagement with the said valve seat upon relative rota-` tion between said rod and tube.

2. In a sampling device, the combination of a container having an opening in the bottom thereof, a suction plunger movable within said container, a valve disposed within said container for closing said opening when said suction plunger is in one position in said container, a second valve disposed outside of said container for closing said opening when said suction plunger is in another position within said container, means for connecting said valves for coincidental movement with said suction plunger to provide'for'the opening of each valve as the' other is closing, a tube connected to the upper end of said container, operating means ffor moving said suction plunger, said operating means passing through said tube, and means carried by said tube forholding said operating means in xed position with` one of said valves closing said opening in the bottom of said container. y

3. In a sampling device, the combination of a container having an opening in the bottom thereof, a suction plunger movable within said containerfrom a lowered to 'an elevated position, a valve on the end of said suction plunger for closing said opening when said suction plunger is in lowered position, a second valve disposed outside of said container for closing said opening when said suction plunger is in elevated position. a valve stem connecting said second valve to said suction plunger, a supporting tube connected to said container at the top thereof, an operating rod for said suction plunger extending through said tube, and means carried by said tube and engageable with said operating rod for holding said rod in position with said suction plunger in xed position with said opening in the bottom of said container sealed by one of said valves.

4. In a sampling device, the combination of claim 3 and locking means carried by said rod and engageable with said rod-holding means carried by said tube for locking said rod in position.

5. In a sampling device, the combination of claim 3 in which the rod has a quick release thread thereon and in which the rod-holding means carried by the tube has a complementary quick release thread therein for interengagement with the quick release thread on the rod.

6. In a sampling device, the combination of claim 3 in which the rod has a quick release thread thereon and in which the rod-holding means carried by the tube has a complementary quick release thread therein and locking means carried by said rod having a quick release thread therein complementary to the quick release thread on said rod, said locking means being engageable with said rod-holding means carried by said tube for locking said rod in position.

7. In a sampling device, a cylindrical container, a cylinder head secured to the bottom of the container and having a central opening therein, a valve seat disposed within said opening, said valve seat having an inner and an outer sealing surface thereon and a central opening therein, means for securing said valve seat to said cylinder head, a suction plunger movable within said container between a lowered and an elevated position, a valve carried by said suction plunger and engageable with said inner sealing surface of said valve seat to close said opening in the bottom of said container when said suction plunger is in lowered position, a valve stem carried by said suction plunger and movable therewith, said valve stem passing through said Valve seat, a second valve carried by said valve stem and engageable with said outer sealing surface of said valve seat to close said opening in the bottom of said container when said suction plunger is in elevated position, va second cylinder head secured to the top of said container, said second cylinder head having a central opening therein, a tube sealed to said cylinder head surrounding said opening therein, an operating member connected to said suction plunger, said member passing through said tube, means carried by said tube for holding said operating member and suction plungverV in fixed':115151121011l mthin..saidt container with 'said bothomnpeningwtheremealed,by-xone or the othervoffsad,v valves; 'and adiustablei stop means by yslarid'z tube. for engagement. with a -remtaelexsurroundim:an-operngfthereinthrough e;

.eeexmed'to` anmperatingzvrod extension connected 10 toesaidzfopemting rod.

` ADDISQN W. KELLEY.

8 BEEERENQES, lGITEI). The-fo11owing references arev of record in the trle vof this patent! UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date l1,887,859 Pearce v Nov. 15, 11932 2071145 Summers` Feb. 16. 1937 )2,411,982 Mason, Jr Mar. 22, 193B 2,158,803 Renfro VMay 16,1939 ,2,2185899 Warren, Oct. 22,1940

22,302,884- yO Neill f V ,l Nov. v24:. l1942 2,510,657 Rapisarda June 6, 1950 

